The San Francisco 49ers’ preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders wrapped up with an 18-12 victory for the Niners in Nevada on August 27. It was a kicker’s duel for the ages, with Eddy Piñeiro absolutely going off, nailing all six of his field goal attempts. Seriously, a perfect 6-for-6 night, including kicks from 24, 25, 48, 59, 51, and a monstrous 54 yards. That leg is a weapon, and it almost single-handedly kept the Niners ahead.
Kicking Into High Gear: The Pineiro Show
This game was wild because nobody found the end zone. Zero touchdowns for either side, which honestly says a lot about both defenses bringing it, even in preseason. But Piñeiro was the real MVP. He put the Niners up 12-9 with a 59-yard bomb in the fourth quarter. The Raiders tried to answer with a 48-yarder from Matt Gay to tie it up 12-12, but Piñeiro wasn’t done. San Francisco marched 50 yards and, yep, you guessed it, Piñeiro drilled a 51-yarder with less than two minutes left. The defense then got a stop, giving the ball back, and Piñeiro put the cherry on top with his 54-yard beauty. If he can bring that kind of consistency to the regular season, that’s a huge sigh of relief for San Francisco fans. Every point counts, and having a kicker you can trust for 50-plus yarders? That’s golden.
Stacked Backfield Looking Dangerous
Beyond the kicking heroics, the 49ers’ running back room is looking absolutely loaded, and that’s a massive win from this game. We all know MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey can put up ridiculous numbers, over 1,000 yards rushing or receiving. But the depth behind him means they can keep him fresh all season long. Rookie Kaelon Black flashed some serious potential against the Raiders, averaging 7 yards per carry with a sick mix of power and speed. Jordan James also showed he’s a reliable back, making a catch out of the backfield and adding 35 rushing yards on eight attempts. Don’t sleep on Khalil Herbert, either; he led the Niners on the ground with 40 yards on six touches. Even with Sincere McCormick having a quieter night with just 8 yards on seven touches, and Deebo Samuel Sr. expected to get some handoffs this season, that backfield is going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Last Chance Saloon for the Backups
This was the final audition for a lot of guys trying to lock down a spot on the 53-man roster. Adrian Martinez, for example, had a solid outing, going 12-for-21 for 130 yards with no turnovers. With Kurtis Rourke dealing with injuries, Martinez’s performance here could be huge. KhaDarel Hodge made some clutch catches and stood out on special teams, which is exactly how you impress the front office before cutdown day. For the starters, the big win was just getting through this game healthy and ready to rest up. It’s all about avoiding those nagging injuries before the real show starts.
Now the focus shifts entirely to the regular season. After seeing Piñeiro’s leg and the depth in that running back room, the 49ers have some serious momentum. Can Piñeiro maintain that perfect form, and will the young backs prove they can contribute consistently? It’s going to be exciting to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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